New Paltz meeting explores SUNY housing plan

Tuesday

Dec 11, 2012 at 2:00 AM

NEW PALTZ — Town Planning Board members heard more than a dozen town and village residents and students question the economic, environmental and social impacts of a huge new student and faculty apartment complex SUNY New Paltz hopes to build near campus.

BY JEREMIAH HORRIGAN

NEW PALTZ — Town Planning Board members heard more than a dozen town and village residents and students question the economic, environmental and social impacts of a huge new student and faculty apartment complex SUNY New Paltz hopes to build near campus.

"We need to know the facts — what's the public benefit?" said Bob Gabrielli, a former landlord in the community.

Many of the questions focused on the project's potential economic impact.

Park Place, as it's been dubbed by its developers, would be a 732-bed student-faculty apartment complex to be built on land near the campus that's owned by the SUNY Community Foundation, the college's not-for-profit fundraising agency.

The evening featured far more questions than answers; Planning Board Chairman Mike Calimano explained that the hearing would not become a dialog — "or else we'll be here for three years."

The financial concerns voiced by Gabrielli and several others at the Town Hall meeting focused on Wilamite, the Rochester developer, which qualifies for a tax abatement through the county Industrial Development Agency.

Landlord Rick Bunt said he was concerned the project's size would damage the local housing market by increasing the rental market by 25 percent and by seeking a tax abatement:

"This project isn't paying its fair share "» I don't think a Walmart-type business will benefit people — homeowners or landlords."

Bunt pleaded with the Planning Board to consider the long-term impact of the project.

Similarly, SUNY New Paltz Dean Gerald Benjamin pleaded with the board to stay aware of the need for a timely decision on the project.

"Too many times, things are determined by a water-torture process," Benjamin said.